Gondwana Choirs celebrates 30 years with series of concerts

Some of the most angelic voices in the world will float over the shores of Sydney Harbour when eight top children’s choirs gather to mark the 30th anniversary of Gondwana Choir’s founding ensemble, the Sydney Children’s Choir.

Amy Harris

The Sunday TelegraphDecember 16, 201812:00pm

Gondwana World Choral Festival1:08

Some of the most angelic voices in the world will float over the shores of Sydney Harbour when eight top children’s choirs gather to mark the 30th anniversary of Gondwana Choir’s founding ensemble, the Sydney Children’s Choir.

Choral choirs from Boston in the US, Lyon in France and Latvia’s famous Riga Cathedral Girl’s Choir will join singers from Gondwana as well as the Sydney Children’s Choir for the series of concerts in and around the Sydney Opera House.

It is the first event of its kind since an international choral gathering was held in Australia back in 1996.

The eight nations, and around 1500 singers, attending are considered the elite athletes of choirs, according to Australian choir director Lyn Williams OAM.

She said the youth choirs are widely considered as good as their adult counterparts.

“Their voices, or their instruments, are obviously very different and you can hear the difference but in terms of the quality of their sound and their professionalism they’re world class,” says Williams, who revealed the idea to bring the event to Sydney followed years of talent spotting.

“We have been touring the world and gradually along the way you discover these incredible choirs,” she said.